Cage Wash Tech-Laboratory Animal Care Unit

About the job

Market Range: 04

Hiring Salary: $18.00/Hourly

JOB SUMMARY/ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Cage Wash Technician will operate and maintain the program’s cage washing and cage/rack systems.  This position exists to provide key important and required job functions as a member of a specific work team that supports a large complex, integrated, and centralized laboratory animal resource program in an academic health science center campus. The program that this position supports requires a diverse team of technicians, supervisors, managers, and professionals who collectively operate a complex research facility that houses, maintains, cares for, and supports live animals for use in biomedical research.

Responsibilities

• Receives soiled caging into cage wash area, performs pre-cleaning of caging, and disassembles cages as necessary to prepare for loading into automated cage washing machines as directed by supervisor and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Empties soiled bedding and waste from soiled cages and disposes of soiled bedding in accordance with instructions from supervisor and standard operating procedures.
• Loads caging into automated cage washing machines in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Performs cage washing through operation of automated cage washing machines in accordance with standard operating procedures and as directed by supervisor.
• Assesses sanitation and effectiveness of cage washing and sanitizing processes in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Performs preventive maintenance, start up, and shut down of equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Prepares and fills orders for processed cages and equipment for specific work areas with input from animal care technicians and supervisors,
• Loads bulk bedding into automated bedding dispenser.
• Maintains records of cage washing machines sanitation effectiveness in accordance with standard operating procedure.
• Assesses cage washing and cage processing equipment for proper operation daily.
• Performs manual cage washing and sanitation as directed by supervisor.
• Removes clean cages from automated cage washing equipment, adds bedding, and re-assembles cages as directed by supervisor and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:

High School Diploma or GED. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

EXPERIENCE:

Six (6) months of work-related experience with animals, sanitization, or operating machinery is desirable.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Ability to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to follow written and verbal directions with attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and supervisor.
• Ability to perform physical duties, which may include standing, pushing, pulling and lifting, pushing or pulling loaded bulk trucks and racks.
• Ability to withstand extensive exposure to disagreeable elements such as elevated temperatures, high humidity, dust, and excessive noise; possess manual dexterity skills to assemble and disassemble cages, load caging into automated washing machines, and re-assemble cleaned cages.
• Ability and willingness to use disinfecting and sterilizing chemical agents.
• Ability and willingness to wear the protective gear provided by the department.

WORK SCHEDULE:

This position may occasionally be required to work weekends and evenings.